The head of the Federal Audit Office (RH) has appealed to political leaders to avoid “gambling away the future of our children”. Josef Moser provided the government coalition and the parliament’s opposition factions with a list of 599 suggestions where the country could become more efficient as lawmakers keep arguing over how to slash the […]
Raidl snubs ÖVP hot seat offer
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The Viennese People’s Party (ÖVP) tried to persuade an industrialist and conservative opinion leader to take over as chairman, it has emerged. Claus Raidl – who formerly headed tool steel manufacturer Böhler Uddeholm – confirmed today (Thurs) that he was approached by Vienna ÖVP officials about whether he could imagine becoming the party’s new leader. […]
People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger has warned it would be a “disaster” if Austria lost its AAA credit rating. Austria’s soundness is currently given the best-possible rating by the world’s leading credit rating agencies, Moody’s, Standard & Poors (S&P) and Fitch. Economist Bernhard Felderer recently warned that they could downgrade their outlook for […]
Austria’s provinces will be allowed to breach upcoming debt limit regulations in extraordinary circumstances, it emerged yesterday evening (Tues). David Brenner, the financial councillor of Salzburg and head of the council of councillors for financial affairs, announced that the country’s nine provinces were given the right to spend more than scheduled in the next nine […]
Rating agencies ‘expect clear signal’
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Bernhard Felderer has explained why the Austrian government is well advised to fight for a two-third majority approval of its debt limit project. Social Democrats (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP) are currently trying to convince the Greens and the rightist Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) that its stricter budget path until 2020 was […]
Fekter set to clash with provinces
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People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter is braced for controversial arguments with the financial councillors of Austria’s nine provinces after David Brenner expressed concerns about the government’s debt limit. Brenner – who heads the council of provincial financial councillors – said today (Tues) the federal coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and ÖVP must abstain […]
Pilz opposes pay freeze
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A veteran Green Party member has spoken out against the government’s decision not to increase politicians’ wages next year. The coalition of Chancellor Werner Faymann’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger’s People’s Party (ÖVP) said on Sunday members of the parliament (MPs) would not get more in 2012. Delegates’ salaries were most […]
Teachers ‘should work more’
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People’s Party (ÖVP) Finance Minister Maria Fekter has intensified the increasing public budget path arguments by suggesting that young teachers should work more for less. The ÖVP vice leader said yesterday (Thurs) young people starting in the profession could do 27 instead of 21 hours a week. She told Die Presse that her plan was […]
Cars lacking eco-friendly engine systems should be kept out from Vienna form 2013, a Green Party official has suggested. Rüdiger Maresch said today (Fri) owners of cars with excessive carbon emissions could be blocked from entering the federal capital in less than two years by creating a new motorised traffic rules system. The Vienna Greens […]
The chancellor’s social media manager has justified the high costs of his cyber activities. Angelika Feigl said today (Fri) expenses were not just spent on Werner Faymann’s Facebook and Twitter accounts but also on a new homepage and a smartphone app. The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) leader’s office informed the Freedom Party (FPÖ) earlier this […]